Bob Dole, with help, stands for final salute to George HW Bush at US Capitol

Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole has saluted President George H.W. Bush at the casket of the late president. Like Bush, Dole is a World War II veteran. (Dec. 4)
AP

Bob Dole saluted a fellow World War II veteran Tuesday under the Capitol dome as he rose to honor George H.W. Bush.

Dole, the 95-year-old former Senate majority leader, relied on an aide to help him stand on the floor of the Capitol rotunda before offering his gesture beside the casket of Bush, his onetime rival in the 1988 Republican presidential primary.

Bush's spokesman, Jim McGrath, described the salute as "a last, powerful gesture of respect from one member of the Greatest Generation, @SenatorDole, to another."

Dole was among mourners filing into the rotunda to pay respects to Bush on day two of his lying in state, a day that also drew Colin Powell, his former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, and Sully, the yellow Labrador who worked as the former president's service dog.

Former Sen. Bob Dole stands and salutes the casket of President George H.W. Bush who lies in state at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.(Photo: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)

Bush's remains arrived in Washington Monday afternoon aboard the blue-and-white plane known as Air Force One. Mourners began gathering outside the Capitol earlier that morning.

The 41st president will likely draw more former and current leaders at his state funeral, which will take place Wednesday at the Washington National Cathedral. His son, former President George W. Bush, will deliver the eulogy.

After the funeral, Bush's remains will arrive at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland for a ceremony before returning to Texas for remembrances at S. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston until 7 a.m. Thursday.

He will be buried Thursday at a family plot at George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station.